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Jani Lane autopsy: No quick answers in Warrant singer's death

August 12, 2011 | 10:28
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An autopsy on rocker Jani Lane has revealed no conclusive cause of death, an L.A. County coroner's official said Friday.

That leaves family, friends and fans of the former Warrant singer to wait on results of toxicology and other tests that will, according to Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter, come in over the next two months or so.

Lane, 47, was pronounced dead early Thursday evening after paramedics found him unresponsive in a hotel room in Woodland Hills, far from his Redondo Beach home. A half-bottle of alcohol and prescription medications were found in the hotel room where he died, though police officials said there was no indication that the father of two girls had intentionally taken his own life.

A cause of death similarly in limbo is that of 27-year-old singer Amy Winehouse, found dead July 23, whose autopsy yielded no clear answers. In that case, Winehouse's family reportedly believes sudden withdrawal from alcohol will be revealed as the culprit after toxicology and other tests results are returned.

Lane, whose lead-singer relationship with Warrant was on-again, off-again, wrote hits for the hair-metal band including "Heaven," "Cherry Pie" and "Down Boys." Warrant's first two albums -- "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" in 1989 and "Cherry Pie" in 1990 -- both went double-platinum. Lane first left the band in 1992, but returned years later.

"We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Jani's passing," the band said Friday on its website, also posting a concert video of Lane performing "Heaven," embedded below.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Jani was a very important part of our lives for a long time. We will always be incredibly proud of the music we created together. He was a true talent and will be missed by all of us."